Training Materials
Learn more about best practices in volunteer recruitment and engagement, and how to get the results you need.
NOTE: These are examples from public libraries and should be reviewed and modified to ensure fit with local policies and culture.
Title | Keyword | Tags | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Union Issues and Staff Resistance
Early in the Get Involved initiative we determined that the two biggest potential internal barriers to moving toward engagement of skilled volunteers… more |
Engaging Staff and Unions | Unions, Staff Resistance, staff buy-in | 2008 |
Until Tuesday - Book to Action Project- Lodi, CA
As part of an LSTA grant, Lodi Public Library designed a Book to Action project around the book "Until Tuesday" based on the true story of… more |
Capacity Building, Engaging High Impact Volunteers | Book to action, Video, book discussion, community service | 2012 |
Up Your Game with Skills-Based Volunteering
A discussion of skills-based volunteering which can be provided through specialized volunteer-matching organizations. |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | Skilled Volunteers | 2023 |
Virtual Homework Help Coach Online Training - San Jose CA
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, San Jose Public Library moved it's homework help program online. This is the online training they use to train the… more |
Job Specific Volunteer Training | Homework Help, COVID-19 | 2020 |
Virtual Volunteer - 4 minute interview
This 4 minute interview is with a volunteer who couldn't come to the library to volunteer, but still wanted to help with her high level social… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | virtual volunteer | 2015 |
Virtual Volunteer Orientation - San Jose CA
This online training was developed to introduce new volunteers to the San José Public Library and provide a basic overview of the volunteer policies… more |
Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Capacity Building | virtual volunteer, virtual, orientation, Volunteer Orientation | 2020 |
Virtual Volunteers: Keys to Success and Sustainability
More and more organizations rely on a hybrid workforce – with staff and volunteers working on-site and on-line. More recently, engaging volunteers… more |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | virtual volunteer | 2022 |
Volunteer Appreciation Guide
is Volunteer Appreciation Guide is a free resource developed by Wild Apricot to offer tips and advice for volunteer programs just getting started… more |
Capacity Building | recognition | 2019 |
Volunteer Assessment and Selection- Jennifer Rackow
As part of a day-long training, Jennifer Rackow helps you assess and select the best candidates to become volunteers in your program. Search for… more |
Capacity Building, Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Interviewing Volunteers, Staff Training | Video, volunteer selection | 2009 |
Volunteer Background Checks: Giving Back without Giving Up on Privacy
How do nonprofit organizations screen volunteers? There are several options. The choices depend largely on the volunteer job involved and the… more |
Volunteer Screening / Interviewing, Capacity Building, Staff Training | background checks, screening | 2018 |
Volunteer COVID-19 Protocol Training - Huntington Beach CA
Protocol training for volunteers returning to the library during/after COVID-19 pandemic |
Volunteer Orientation | COVID-19 | 2021 |
Volunteer COVID-19 Safety Guidelines - Cedar Rapids IA
General guidelines for volunteers returning to the library during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. |
Capacity Building, Job Specific Volunteer Training | COVID-19 | 2020 |
Volunteer Engagement 101
This one hour archived video was presented by Carla Lehn of the Get Involved: Powered by Your Library initiative for the incoming AmeriCorps members… more |
Staff Training | job descriptions, Recruitment, Staff Resistance, staff buy-in, Motivation | 2022 |
Volunteer Ethics & Risk Management: Should You Bring Volunteers In?
This blogpost on ethics and volunteer liability and risk management was prepared by Toby Johnson during the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020. It serves as… more |
Staff Training | Risk Management, liability, Liability Waiver | 2020 |
Volunteer Involvement in California Libraries: Best Practices
This is the State Library's 245 page book on Volunteer Involvement for libraries -- author Carla Lehn. Includes Chapters and sample materials… more |
Volunteer Recruitment, Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Staff Training | Volunteer Recruitment, volunteer coordinator, staff training | 1999 |
Volunteer Management: How to Get it Right
A 2018 study by MAVA (Minnesota Association of Volunteer Administrators) showed a lack of understanding about the essential nature of volunteers and… more |
Capacity Building | volunteer coordinator | 2018 |
Volunteer Matching: Finding the Right Role for Every Volunteer
Fitting each volunteer with the right role is critical to success. |
Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Capacity Building, Staff Training | job descriptions, placement, onboarding, interview | 2023 |
Volunteer Orientation - Circulation - Huntington Beach, CA
Orientation slides used by Huntington Beach Public Library with volunteers in Circulation. |
Materials Handling, Job Specific Volunteer Training, Volunteer Orientation | book shelving, Circulation | 2012 |
Volunteer Orientation - Media Center - Huntington Beach, CA
Powerpoint slides used in orientation of Huntington Beach Public Library's Media Center volunteers. |
Materials Handling, Job Specific Volunteer Training, Volunteer Orientation | Shelving | 2012 |
Volunteer Orientation and Training: The Ultimate Guide
A 2022 article from Wild Apricot on what to consider when planning volunteer orientation and Training. |
Capacity Building | volunteer training, orientation | 2022 |